Trains, Sheffield, & Billy Underwood

From the Midnight Rider:

Trains, Sheffield & Billy Underwood

By: The Midnight Rider

The subject of trains is a very sore subject for the citizens of Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals. It has seemed lately that there has been an increase of train traffic at these city’s crossings. That is not a bad thing; the bad thing is that trains are sitting still on the tracks, blocking traffic. This has especially been true in Sheffield.

Okay, let’s look at this.A long train can block all the crossings in Sheffield. This in fact cuts the City in half. What if an ambulance is coming from North Montgomery Avenue going to Keller Hospital? They have to sit and wait on the train. What if there is a problem south of the tracks that requires Police presence? But all the crossings are blocked.  

Some people have said that you can drive to the Tuscumbia crossing on Blackwell Road or go to the crossing at Avalon. Well, if it was your loved one in that Ambulance do you want them to have to drive all over the place to cross the train tracks? What if that loved one does not have time to live and not getting them directly to the Hospital causes their death?  

There is a definite problem. County Commissioner Tommy Barnes has stated that he has observed a train blocking a crossing for over an hour. There has been talk for years of an over pass in Sheffield. Well that is great but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I think the Cities of Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals should contact Norfork-Southern and come up with a solution to this problem.  

Is it going to have to take the death of someone in an Ambulance waiting for a train and the resulting Civil Lawsuit to get action for this problem?

Sheffield Loses Again

This past Tuesday, the City of Sheffield lost 2 Police Officers and 1 Firerighter. All 3 City Employees had been with the City for some time. But, you know what; I guess the City Council doesn’t see it as a problem. They will just hire someone else, send them to training and then they will leave. It is a vicious cycle.

Billy Underwood

First off, I don’t know Billy Underwood, more than saying hi to him a couple of times. I have read what the TimesDaily and various news sources have written about him recently about his arrest. Now, I might just be a country bumpkin, but I have to think that Mr. Underwood is smarter than to become involved in a scandal or which he is accused.  

Mr. Underwood is good at his job. He is an Attorney that is best suited for certain types of litigation. I am sure he has p***ed some folks off during his career. I think that there is more to this story that has been published. Is this a personal vendetta against Mr. Underwood from someone that he might have p***ed off?   

Remember folks, just because it was in the newspaper or on TV, it is not the Gospel. All of this could be wrong. So, with that, I am saying, I will support Mr. Underwood.  

 “Give them hell, Billy.”

That’s it for now. But remember, the Midnight Rider will always be around to voice his/her/their (?) opinion.  

I am and always will be

the Midnight Rider

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